Traverse City Sights and Landmarks Guide, Michigan

Traverse City, Michigan Sights- What to See

Traverse City is a very picturesque city located in Michigan. It has only fourteen thousand people, and is located on the shore of Lake Michigan at Grand Traverse Bay. Traverse City has many popular sights and touristic spots.

Traverse City Sights: Lake Michigan and Surrounding Areas

Just north of the city, the Old Mission Peninsula divides the Bay into two, with wonderful landscapes on both sides. Just to the west, there is the Leelanua Peninsula which has very wonderful small towns and makes a “pinkie finger” of the peninsula. Both these peninsulas are wine-growing areas, and thus main tourist attractions. Over a million people come to see the “Sleeping Beer Dunes National Lakeshore”, which is a picturesque lakeside park with sand dunes. There are also many water sports here. Traverse City is neighboured by Pellston, Escanaba and Maple City. People from these cities travel to Traverse city to spend their weekends and holidays.

North of the city is the Old Mission Point Lighthouse which was made in 1870, but was later decommissioned and now only houses town employees.

Traverse City Sights: Culture

The Traverse Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1951 and is the only professional orchestra in the city. The City Opera House was built in 1891 and has theatre productions as well as dancing. The Old Town Playhouse brings amateur theatre to the city, and has an auditorium of over three hundred seats. It was built in 1960. The Dennos Museum Center has science exhibitions, and performing arts. It also has a Milliken Auditorium and a museum store as well as an Inuit art gallery. The Music House Museum has unique and rare collections of antique musical instruments.

Besides these, the city has a large collection of indoor arenas like the Centre I.C.E Arena, Timber Lanes Bowling and Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf.

Traverse City Sights: Festivals

The National Cherry Festival takes place in Early June to promote the cherries, as well as boost tourism. There is tasting of cherry based recipes, as well as golf contests, kite boarding, and sand sculpture contests.

The Traverse City Film Festival is held in late July and Early August and has a full week of movies in three theatres, and even late night movies being shown free of charge on the outdoor screen.

The North-western Michigan Fair is held in early August and has animal shows, a carnival, harness racing and even go-carts.

The festivals of Traverse City are very popular throughout the United States. Traverse City is home to Traverse City (TVC) Airport, which is served by a great number of domestic flights and International flights. Cheap Flights from Los Angeles to Traverse City, Orlando to Traverse City and Orange County to Traverse City are served throughout the year.